Maize is pretty popular this time of the year in some parts of the world, and the day after Thanksgiving is also known as Maize Day in the U.S.! And it certainly deserves a day of it’s own; after all, it’s a good source of all kinds of vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, proteins and carbohydrates. They also have a high iron content, something that is sorely missing in many Indian children’s diets. A great way to include maize in your diet is through fun maize recipes like maize chivda, maize flakes soup and maize flakes with milk and honey. Or you could go with today’s special – maize flakes upma, made with organic maize flakes!
Maize Flakes Upma Recipe
Ingredients:
- Organic Maize Flakes – 1/2 cup
- Onion – 1, finely chopped
- Green peas – 2-3 tbsp
- Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
- Green chilly – 1, chopped or slit
- Skinned and split black gram / urad dal – 1 tsp
- Split bengal Gram / Chana dal – 1 tsp
- Oil – 1 tbsp
- Scraped fresh Coconut for garnishing – 1 tbsp
- Mustard Seeds – 1/4 tsp
- Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp
- Sugar – 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
Method:
1. Soak the maize flakes in 1 cup water with a pinch of salt for 1 minute.
2. Squeeze out all water and steam the flakes in a steamer for 4-5 minutes. I have steamed the flakes using an Idli pan.
3. Wash and soak the Urad dal and Chana dal in warm water for 5-10 minutes.
4. Heat up oil in a non stick pan and add mustard seeds to it. Once they splutter, add the cumin seeds followed by green chilies and curry leaves.
6. Stir for 30 seconds. Now add the soaked and drained Urad and Chana dal followed by onions . Saute for 1 minute and add in the green peas. Mix and cover cook for 1-2 minutes or until the lentils get cooked.
7. Now add the steamed maize flakes followed by salt and sugar. Mix very well and stir for another 1 minute.
8. Turn off the flame. Garnish the maize flakes upma with scraped coconut.
Serve hot with chutney or tomato ketchup.
You can add veggies of your choice to the upma to make it wholesome and tasty. Go with your child’s favorites to make sure this goes down well with them! This Maize flakes upma makes for a wonderful breakfast and can also be added in your kids’ lunch box. Besides, you can serve it to your little sportsperson who comes running in after school. And if you’re trying to lose weight, this makes the perfect dinner option too!
- Organic Maize Flakes - ½ cup
- Onion - 1, finely chopped
- Green peas - 2-3 tbsp
- Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
- Green chilly - 1, chopped or slit
- Skinned and split black gram / urad dal - 1 tsp
- Split bengal Gram / Chana dal - 1 tsp
- Oil - 1 tbsp
- Scraped fresh Coconut for garnishing - 1 tbsp
- Mustard Seeds - ¼ tsp
- Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
- Sugar - 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Soak the maize flakes in 1 cup water with a pinch of salt for 1 minute.
- Squeeze out all water and steam the flakes in a steamer for 4-5 minutes. I have steamed the flakes using an Idli pan.
- Wash and soak the Urad dal and Chana dal in warm water for 5-10 minutes.
- Heat up oil in a non stick pan and add mustard seeds to it. Once they splutter, add the cumin seeds followed by green chilies and curry leaves.
- Stir for 30 seconds. Now add the soaked and drained Urad and Chana dal followed by onions . Saute for 1 minute and add in the green peas. Mix and cover cook for 1-2 minutes or until the lentils get cooked.
- Now add the steamed maize flakes followed by salt and sugar. Mix very well and stir for another 1 minute.
- Turn off the flame. Garnish the maize flakes upma with scraped coconut.
- Serve hot with chutney or tomato ketchup.